Petunia plant named ‘USTUN19603’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘USTUN19603’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; small flowers that are bright pink in color; and good garden and summer performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USTUN19603’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUN19603’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Petunia plants with compact plant habit, freely branching growth habit, early flowering, attractive small flowers and good summer performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 14, 2004 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan of Petunia×hybrida ‘Little Holiday Pink’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Petunia×hybrida ‘Blue Frill Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,153, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 26, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 30, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USTUN19603’ . These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUN19603’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Small flowers that are bright pink in color.     -   5. Good garden and summer performance.

Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent, ‘Little Holiday Pink’, primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Little Holiday Pink’ have darker pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading than plants of ‘Little Holiday Pink’.

Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent, ‘Blue Frill Pink’, primarily in flower color and petal appearance as plants of ‘Blue Frill Pink’ have more lavender-colored flowers with petals that are more ruffled. In addition, plants of the new Petunia are not as outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Blue Frill Pink’.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘Horizon Lavender’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Horizon Lavender’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Horizon Lavender’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Horizon Lavender’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Horizon Lavender’ had darker-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘Mediopimo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,858. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Mediopimo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more compact than plants of         ‘Mediopimo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Mediopimo’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Mediopimo’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Mediopimo’ had darker-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘USTUN19603’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘USTUN19603’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer and early autumn in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 9° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched one time and were six weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUN19603’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘Little Holiday             Pink’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘Blue Frill Pink’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,153. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 days             at air temperatures of 29° C. and soil temperatures of 17°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days             at air temperatures of 21° C. and soil temperatures of 17°             C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Annual flowering plant; upright,             outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit; vigorous             growth habit; freely branching habit with about 25 lateral             branches and numerous secondary and tertiary lateral             branches per plant; pinching enhances development of lateral             branches.         -   Plant height.—About 10 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 41 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent; viscid. Color: Close to 145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; viscid.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single axillary salverform flowers;             flowers face mostly upward or outward; freely flowering             habit, about 21 to 24 flower buds and open flowers per             lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to five days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.8 cm. Depth (height): About             3 cm. Tube length: About 2.2 cm. Throat diameter, distal             end: About 6 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 2 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 56D.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals fused in a             single whorl, funnelform. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.3 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Roughly fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Acute with a             small central point. Petal lobe margin: Entire. Petal lobe             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to             186C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 65D. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N74C; towards the throat,             close to 75B to 75C; venation, close to N74C. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 84D; venation, close to 146D. Flower             throat: Close to 75C to 75D; venation, close to 145C. Flower             tube (outside): Close to 76D; venation, close to 146D.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.2 cm.             Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° to 60° from the stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.8 cm to 2 cm. Filament color: Close             to 157D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 156C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 196A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 1.7 cm. Style length: About 1.3 cm.             Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Rounded             anvil-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary color:             Close to 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been             observed. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden and summer performance and have been observed to     tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to     about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUN19603’ as illustrated and described. 